Female Film Directors

Vote for Your Favourite Female Film Directors

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 1 
Kathryn Bigelow
(Film director)
Kathryn Bigelow
5
Birthdate: November 27, 1951
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Carlos, California, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 2 
Bryce Dallas Howard
(Actress and Director)
Bryce Dallas Howard
7
Birthdate: March 2, 1981
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Bryce Dallas Howard is an American actress and filmmaker, who attained fame after starring in the psychological thriller, The Village. Some of her other notable films are Lady in the Water, As You Like, Spiderman 3, Terminator Salvation, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. She is the daughter of famous and celebrated director and producer, Ron Howard.

 3 
Regina King
(Actress and Director Best Known for Her Film ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’)
Regina King
5
Birthdate: January 15, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Regina King was first noticed when she appeared in the series 227 and then gained fame with her role in Jerry Maguire. Her performance as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk won her both the Academy and the Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actress.

 4 
Jennette McCurdy
(Filmmaker, Podcaster and Former Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sam Puckett’ in the Nickelodeon Sitcom ‘iCarly’)
Jennette McCurdy
5
Birthdate: June 26, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States

An American actress, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, writer, and YouTuber, Jennette McCurdy is truly an inspiration to several young girls and women; despite suffering from conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and bulimia, McCurdy has managed to establish herself as a successful entertainer. As a writer, she has contributed immensely to publications like The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Seventeen.

 5 
Anjelica Huston
(Actress Known for her Performance in 'Prizzi's Honor' and Daughter of Director John Huston)
Anjelica Huston
7
Birthdate: July 8, 1951
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States

Born to actor-director John Huston and ballerina Enrica Soma, Anjelica Huston was no stranger to the world of entertainment as a child. Initially a model, she later became full-time actor and won an Academy Award for her role in Prizzi's Honor. She later became a regular in Wes Anderson’s films.

 6 
Kerry Washington
(Actress and Producer Famous for Her Portrayal of ‘Olivia Pope’ in the Drama Series ‘Scandal’)
Kerry Washington
5
Birthdate: January 31, 1977
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

American actress, Kerry Washington, attained fame when she starred in the television series, Scandal, which ran from 2012 to 2018. She was also commended for her role in the television film, Confirmation, and for the miniseries, Little Fires Everywhere. She has also acted in films like The Last King of Scotland, Django Unchained, Our Song, The Dead Girl and American Son.

 7 
Lea Thompson
(Actress Best Known for Her Roles in the 'Back to the Future' Film Trilogy & 'Howard the Duck')
Lea Thompson
4
Birthdate: May 31, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Initially a ballerina, Lea Thompson later deviated to acting, after being told she didn’t have the perfect body to pursue ballet. She then modeled for Burger King and eventually bagged a role in Jaws 3-D. She later gained fame with Caroline in the City and the Back to the Future trilogy.

 8 
Melissa Gilbert
5
Birthdate: May 8, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Melissa Gilbert is an actress and politician. She played an important and influential role in the American film and TV industry while serving as the president of the Screen Actors Guild between 2001 and 2005. Also a writer, Melissa Gilbert has published an autobiography, cookbook, and short story for children.

 9 
Penny Marshall
(Actress)
Penny Marshall
4
Birthdate: October 15, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States
Died: December 17, 2018
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 10 
Sofia Coppola
(Director and Actress Best Known for Her Films: ‘The Virgin Suicides’, ‘Lost in Translation’ and 'Marie Antoinette')
Sofia Coppola
4
Birthdate: May 14, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

The daughter of the popular filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia Coppola followed in her father's footsteps to become a screenwriter and filmmaker. Sofia became only the second woman to win the Best Director award in the history of Cannes Film Festival when she won the award at the 2017 Festival.

 11 
Melissa Fumero
4
Birthdate: August 19, 1982
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Melissa Fumero is best known as Adriana Cramer from One Life to Live and Amy Santiago from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, winning an NHMC Impact Award for creating a “positive” image for Latinos, for the latter. She has also appeared in minor roles in All My Children, Gossip Girl, and CSI: NY.
 12 
Angela White
(Australian Porn Actor and Director)
Angela White
12
Birthdate: March 4, 1985
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Award-winning Australian porn actor-director Angela White now mostly works in the US. Part of the AVN Hall of Fame, is a gender studies graduate from the University of Melbourne and has conducted extensive research on pornography. She became the first Fleshlight Girl from Australia and has also been a webcam model.

 13 
Bonnie Wright
(Actress)
Bonnie Wright
4
Birthdate: February 17, 1991
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom

Bonnie Wright is an English actress, filmmaker, screenwriter, and activist. She is best known for portraying Ginny Weasley in the popular Harry Potter movie series. Over the years, Wright has been playing a key role in raising awareness about plastic pollution. She also serves as an ambassador for an international non-governmental charity called Lumos.

 14 
Greta Gerwig
(Actress and Director Known for Her Films: 'Lady Bird', 'Little Woman' and 'Frances Ha')
Greta Gerwig
4
Birthdate: August 4, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
Known as an “it girl,” Greta Gerwig has been a major part of mumblecore films and has been seen in many of Joe Swanberg’s and Noah Baumbach’s films. Named to TIME 100, she has also earned Academy Award nominations for her directorial work in Lady Bird and Little Women
 15 
Sasha Alexander
(Actress Known for Her Roles in TV Series: ‘NCIS’, ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ and ‘Dawson's Creek’)
Sasha Alexander
5
Birthdate: May 17, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Active in Hollywood for over two decades, actress Sasha Alexander began her career in theater. Soon, she moved on to TV and appeared in a few shows before gaining popularity. She has also acted in many short films and feature films and is the winner of one People's Choice Award. One interesting fact about her is that she is multilingual.

 16 
Sosie Bacon
(Actress)
Sosie Bacon
4
Birthdate: March 15, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: United States
Sosie Bacon is best known as Skye Miller from Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and as Charlie Johnson from The Closer. She is the daughter of actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. She played 10-year-old Emily Stoll in her debut film, Loverboy. Sosie was declared Miss Golden Globe in 2014. 
 17 
Kathy Bates
(Actress and Director Known for Her Films: 'Misery', ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ and ‘Dolores Claiborne’)
Kathy Bates
9
Birthdate: June 28, 1948
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Best known as Molly Brown from Titanic, Annie Wilkes from Misery, and Ethel Darling from American Horror Story, two-time Emmy-winner Kathy Bates also has an Academy Award in her kitty. She has survived ovarian cancer and breast cancer and is now a prominent advocate for lymphatic disease awareness. 
 18 
Whitney Cummings
(Comedian)
Whitney Cummings
4
Birthdate: September 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 19 
Pauline Chalamet
(American–French Actress, Writer and Director)
Pauline Chalamet
4
Birthdate: January 2, 1992
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: United States
 20 
Lisa Niemi
(Writer, Director and Lead Actress of the Film 'One Last Dance')
Lisa Niemi
6
Birthdate: May 26, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Lisa Niemi is known for her appearance in Steel Dawn and One Last Dance, with her former husband Patrick Swayze. She also released memoirs, both New York Times bestsellers and one of them co-written by Swayze. Swayze’s death due to pancreatic cancer led her to spread awareness about the ailment.
 21 
Sara Gilbert
(Actress and Producer Known for Her Role as ‘Darlene Conner’ in the ABC Sitcom ‘Roseanne’)
Sara Gilbert
4
Birthdate: January 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States

Sara Gilbert is an American actress and filmmaker. She is credited with creating the popular CBS talk show The Talk. Since she is openly lesbian, Sara Gilbert serves as an inspiration to the LGBT community; she came out in July 2010 while preparing to launch The Talk.

 22 
Nina Hartley
(Actress)
Nina Hartley
4
Birthdate: March 11, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 23 
Lake Bell
(Actress, Screenwriter and Director Known for Her Film 'In a World')
Lake Bell
4
Birthdate: March 24, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Lake Bell is an American actress, screenwriter, and director. Also known for her good looks and fashion sense, Bell has been featured on lists like Femme Fatales' 50 Sexiest Women, Maxim's Hot 100, and British Vogue's 10 Best Dressed Women. Apart from being an actress and model, Bell also contributes as an automotive writer and editor to The Hollywood Reporter.

 24 
Emily Mortimer
(Actress Known for Her Roles in 'Lovely and Amazing' and 'The Newsroom')
Emily Mortimer
4
Birthdate: October 6, 1971
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England

Emily Mortimer is an English-American screenwriter and actress. Mortimer, who started her acting career in stage productions, went on to establish herself as a bankable actress in the British film and TV industry. In 2010, she became an American citizen and has since been playing important roles in American films.

 25 
Soleil Moon Frye
(Actress, Director and Producer Known for Her Role as ‘Punky’ in the NBC Sitcom ‘Punky Brewster’)
Soleil Moon Frye
4
Birthdate: August 6, 1976
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Glendora, California, United States
Soleil Moon Frye started as a child actor, with the series Punky Brewster. She also gained fame as Sabrina Spellman’s friend Roxie in the series Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She later voiced characters for series such as The Proud Family. She has also authored books and owns a children’s boutique.
 26 
Daniela Ruah
(Actress and Director Known for Her Role as ‘Kensi Blye’ in TV Series ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’)
Daniela Ruah
4
Birthdate: December 2, 1983
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Portuguese-American actress, Daniela Rua,h is best known for her role in the TV series, NCIS: Los Angeles. She began acting as a teenager and went on to study performing arts at the London Metropolitan University. She then trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before commencing her professional career. She works in both Portuguese and American films.

 27 
Pamela Adlon
(Actress)
Pamela Adlon
4
Birthdate: July 9, 1966
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
 28 
Samantha Morton
(Actress and Director Best Known for Her Role as ‘Agatha’ in the Film ‘Minority Report’)
Samantha Morton
4
Birthdate: May 13, 1977
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Samantha Morton’s journey from growing up in foster care to becoming a Golden Globe-winning actor is truly inspirational. Apart from her appearances in independent films, mostly dramas with dark themes, she is also known for her BAFTA-winning directorial debut, The Unloved. Fans have loved her in Longford and In America.

 29 
Amy Jo Johnson
(Known for Her Roles as ‘Kimberly Hart’ on ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’, ‘Julie Emrick’ on ‘Felicity’)
Amy Jo Johnson
6
Birthdate: October 6, 1970
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dennis, Massachusetts, United States

Amy Jo Johnson is an American-Canadian filmmaker, actress, singer, and songwriter. Over the years, Johnson has been honored at several important film festivals including Long Island Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. A multi-talented personality, Amy Jo Johnson has also directed a couple of films like Tammy's Always Dying and The Space Between.

 30 
Sophie Hunter
(Theatre Director)
Sophie Hunter
4
Birthdate: March 16, 1978
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London

Sophie Hunter is an English playwright, opera director, and former performer. She is credited with co-founding and popularizing a theatre company called Boileroom, which was honored with the Samuel Theatre Trust Award in 2007 for its play The Terrific Electric, which marked Sophie Hunter's directorial debut.

 31 
Diane Ladd
(Actress, Film Director & Producer)
Diane Ladd
9
Birthdate: November 29, 1935
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, United States

Diane Ladd is an American actress, author, and filmmaker. Over the years, Diane Ladd has contributed immensely to the success of several films and TV series. Perhaps, her greatest contribution to Hollywood is guiding and mentoring her daughter and Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern. Both Ladd and Dern received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for the film Rambling Rose

 32 
Clea DuVall
(Actress)
Clea DuVall
4
Birthdate: September 25, 1977
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 33 
Tosca Musk
(Producer, Director and Co-Founder of the Streaming Service ‘Passionflix’)
Tosca Musk
5
Birthdate: July 20, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: South Africa

South African filmmaker, Tosca Musk, has produced and directed several TV programs, films, and web series. Beginning her career in the early 2000s, she teamed up with Jeff Macpherson to produce the web series, Tiki Bar TV. Her movie, Simple Things, received the California Independent Film Festival Slate Award. She is also the founder of the streaming service Passionflix.

 34 
Karen Gillan
(Scottish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Amy Pond’ in the TV Series ‘Doctor Who’)
Karen Gillan
0
Birthdate: November 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Inverness, Scotland

Karen Gillan is one of the most popular and successful actresses from Scotland. She is best known for playing Nebula and Ruby Roundhouse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and Jumanji film series respectively. Also a filmmaker, she wrote and directed The Party's Just Beginning, apart from acting in the film. She is also a philanthropist.

 35 
Nora Ephron
(Screenwriter, Producer, Director)
Nora Ephron
4
Birthdate: May 19, 1941
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: June 26, 2012

Nora Ephron was an American writer, filmmaker, and journalist. She is known for writing films like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally... The Nora Ephron Prize was created by the Tribeca Film Festival in her memory. Her life and work inspired the 2016 documentary film Everything Is Copy, which was directed by her son Jacob Bernstein.

 36 
Asia Argento
(Actress and Director Known for Her Films: 'XXX', ‘'Marie Antoinette' and ‘Misunderstood’)
Asia Argento
7
Birthdate: September 20, 1975
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Asia Argento, daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento, has starred in movies such as XXX, Traveling Companion, and Transylvania. She declared that Harvey Weinstein had sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, while she was herself accused of assaulting Jimmy Bennett. She was dating Anthony Bourdain at the time of his death.
 37 
Alexandra Hedison
(American Actress and Photographer Known for Her TV Series ‘The L Word’ and ‘Prey’)
Alexandra Hedison
4
Birthdate: July 10, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Alexandra Hedison is a renowned photographer and has exhibited her creations at numerous galleries, throughout the U.S. and Europe. She has also appeared in the series The L Word and Nash Bridges. Openly lesbian, she has dated Ellen DeGeneres in the past and is now married to Jodie Foster.
 38 
Chloe Zhao
(Known for Her Independent Films 'The Rider' and 'Songs My Brothers Taught Me')
Chloe Zhao
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao is best known for directing films such as Songs My Brothers Taught Me and The Rider, both of which earned Independent Spirit Award nominations. Her film Nomadland won her the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. She is also directing the Marvel film Eternals.
 39 
Alison Eastwood
(Known for Her Role as ‘Mandy Nicholls’ in the Film ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’)
Alison Eastwood
4
Birthdate: May 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States

Actress, director, and producer, Alison Eastwood, is the daughter of actor Clint Eastwood. Growing up in close proximity to Hollywood, she began getting acting offers at an early age. She took up a few projects as a child and decided to pursue acting professionally as a young woman. She also runs her own business and a non-profit animal welfare organization. 

 40 
Dyan Cannon
(First Woman to be nominated for Oscars Both in Front of and Behind the Camera)
Dyan Cannon
4
Birthdate: January 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
Dyan Cannon is best known for her Academy Award-nominated roles in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and Heaven Can Wait. She has also written, directed, and produced the Academy Award-nominated film Number One. She has appeared in series such as Ally McBeal and Three Sisters, too.
 41 
Danielle Harris
4
Birthdate: June 1, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Plainview, New York

Danielle Harris started off as a child actor and grew up to be a "scream queen,” appearing in cult horror films. She is best known for her roles in the Halloween franchise and the Hatchet movie series. She has also voiced Debbie Thornberry in the animated series The Wild Thornberrys.

 42 
Chandra Wilson
(Actress and Director Known for Her Role as ‘Dr. Miranda Bailey’ in the TV Series ‘Grey's Anatomy’)
Chandra Wilson
3
Birthdate: August 27, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Chandra Wilson is an American actress best known for playing Dr. Miranda Bailey in the popular medical drama TV series Grey's Anatomy, for which she has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Apart from being an actress and director, Chandra Wilson is also an activist; she works towards raising awareness about cyclic vomiting syndrome.

 43 
Joey Lauren Adams
(Actress)
Joey Lauren Adams
4
Birthdate: January 9, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 44 
Ava DuVernay
(Filmmaker)
Ava DuVernay
4
Birthdate: August 24, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
 45 
Elizabeth Banks
(Actress Known for Her Role in 'The Hunger Games' and 'Pitch Perfect' Movie Series)
Elizabeth Banks
0
Birthdate: February 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States

Elizabeth Banks is famous for The Hunger Games film series and Pitch Perfect film series. The 2019 action comedy film Charlie's Angels was directed, written and produced by her, in which she acted too. The Spider-Man trilogy, Seabiscuit, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Next Three Days and Power Rangers are some of her other notable films. 

 46 
Jodie Foster
(Actress & Director)
Jodie Foster
0
Birthdate: November 19, 1962
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Jodie Foster is considered to be one of the best actors of her time. She attained fame as a child actor in the acclaimed film Taxi Driver. Some of her memorable roles as an adult are The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs and Sommersby. She’s a director too. Foster has been in the news for her sexual orientation.

 47 
Jenna Haze
(Pornographic Actress, Director)
Jenna Haze
3
Birthdate: February 22, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Fullerton, California, United States
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 48 
Fiona Shaw
(Actress)
Fiona Shaw
9
Birthdate: July 10, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 49 
Sarah Drew
(Actress)
Sarah Drew
4
Birthdate: October 1, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stony Brook, New York, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 50 
Sarah Lancashire
(Actress)
Sarah Lancashire
5
Birthdate: October 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)